Toledo Community Foundation to launch new fund in March

The Toledo Community Foundation’s Safety Net Grantmaking Program will kick off March 2. The program will accept applications from nonprofit groups providing food, clothing and shelter to the community. Applicants will be matched with a grant from funds raised by the foundation and United Way of Greater Toledo.

“We looked at the current economic condition of our community and we deemed that there is a greater need in our community than before for basic needs and a basic safety net,” Keith Burwell, president of the foundation, said.

Joanne Olnhausen, the Foundation’s communications officer, said the foundation and United Way have each designated $100,000 for the fund. With that money, the Foundation will match 50 cents to every dollar (up to $2,000 per individual donation) donated by the community.

“We told the community, ‘We are going to respond to this need, and if you want to respond, we will match your money,’” Burwell said.

Olnhausen said it wants to get the donations out to the community as soon as they come in.

“We want to make the money and get it out,” she said. The fund is temporary and aims to help nonprofit groups’ needs at a time when less government funds and donations are coming in.

Nonprofit, charitable organizations that have a tax-exempt status can send applications to the foundation beginning March 2. The foundation’s staff and board of trustees will review the applications and they intend to accept them through 2009, Olnhausen said.

The foundation will look at the organization’s ability to serve the basic needs of the community with priority given to nonprofits that can offer direct and immediate assistance.

“We are actually looking at organizations that are providing those basic needs,” Burwell said. “While we say food, clothing and shelter are the basic needs, we are trying to keep that as broad as possible to help as many as possible.

“We know we are going to help the community, and for those who have the ability to help, we are asking them to join us.”

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on Friday, February 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Community, Philanthropy.
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